Weapons (Kobudo)

Kobudo literally meaning “ancient martial way,” refers to the weapons art of the Okinawan people. During the time when Kobudo was first developed, the Japanese Satsuma Samurai had occupied Okinawa and established a ban on weapons and all martial arts practice. The Okinawan people trained in secret and learned to use everyday tools as weapons. They learned to adapt almost anything they could in to a weapon, including farm tools and household items. Many of the weapons and practices of the ancient Okinawan Warriors have been forgotten. We pride ourselves in keeping this system and its customs alive to this day.

This program teaches students how to use the traditional Okinawan Karate weapons in our Kokusai Rengokai system. Students have a blast learning history, kata and techniques for various weapons such as the bo, nunchaku, sai, kama, tonfa and eiku. Appropriate for ages 7 to adult.

Students have the ability to earn separate Kobudo rank in this system.

The staff has been viewed as a weapon by almost all cultures worldwide and the Okinawan people were no different. This six foot staff could easily pass as a simple tool like a walking stick, however in a fight its reach and versatility can be unmatched.

Nunchaku

The nunchaku were originally used as horse bridles, however people quickly discovered that they could be used as a flail to fend off attackers. This weapon was made popular by the Chinese movie star Bruce Lee. Sai

Sai were believed to always be a weapon however its origins are unclear. Many countries have used a similar weapon including China, India, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Okinawan people were able to pass it off as a simple tool to dig with or even hold a horse cart to its hitch, like a bolt or cotter pin. This weapon is used for defending attacks, hooking weapons or opponents, striking and stabbing.

Kama

Kama were simply a sickle used for everyday life on the farm, but with a razor sharp curved blade it’s not hard to see how this could be used as a weapon. In the hands of a martial arts the kama can be a lethal weapon.

Tonfa

Originally the tonfa were handles on a grinding stone. The tonfa became a weapon that was practical for offense and defense. It was so useful, that the police even adopted it as their baton.

Eiku

The eiku was an Okinawan style boat ore. It was a common weapon for fisherman to use. Not only would they strike with this weapon but they also used the flat part of the ore to throw sand into an attacker’s eyes, leaving him blind and helpless.

Nuntibo

The nuntibo is a six foot bo with a curved manji sai at the end of it. Originally it was a tool used to help control and bring in fishing nets on the boat, however it is a very practical weapon. It can be used to stab like a spear or hook and control an enemy or his weapon.

Tekku

The tekku were worn on the hands of fisherman to keep them from cutting their hands on the net. The tekku can be used for punching like brass knuckles or for attacking pressure points.